Before you can buy your new home you need to arrange for a surveyor to carry out a survey of the property. A survey will tell you whether or not the property you hope to buy is a good investment without structural faults.
haart have worked with Wolton Chartered Surveyors for many years. Wolton Chartered Surveyors was formed in 1919, and today serves the needs of clients across the whole of the home-counties, including most of London. The Company has been awarded the internationally recognised ISO9002 Quality Assurance Certificate as proof of its commitment and care for it’s customers.
We can help you If you need an independent, professional survey and valuation advice, for your residential property.
We have offices covering the following areas:
- Central London
- South East of London
- Midlands
- East Anglia
- South and South West of England
- Wales
With 38 offices, 110 Chartered Surveyors and links to surveying companies in the North of England and Scotland we are able to provide national coverage.
Our specialist client Service team at our Head office in Colchester ensure a vital speedy service with Mortgage Valuations prepared in 72 hours. Homebuyer reports in 5days and building Survey Reports in 7days
We always talk to you as an individual and will be delighted to help and guide you to find the most suitable survey or valuation service to meet your particular needs.
Costs of surveys depend on the type of survey you choose and the size and condition of the property. It is always worth getting a few quotes before agreeing a price with a surveyor.
Which Survey?
There are three types of survey:
- Valuation Report – Mortgage providers usually insist on a valuation report before they will agree to lend you the money. This is to confirm that the property is sufficient security to cover the loan. It will cost you around £100. If your home is still under being built, the mortgage provider will carry out some checks on the builder and development. They will usually release the mortgage in stages, handing over the final money once the home is finished and can be valued.
- Homebuyer's Report – This provides information about the basic fabric of a property and usually costs around £250. Only those parts of the property that are readily available will be covered. It will comment on defects or problems that may affect the value of the home.
- Full Structural Survey – This is a more thorough survey of the way the property’s construction and condition than a Homebuyer's Report. It is therefore likely to cost twice as much. It will provide detailed information on how the property has been constructed, the materials used, the condition of the foundations, roof, walls etc. It is recommended for properties that are very old, run down or expensive.
After deciding which type of survey is best for you always write to your surveyor to confirm your choice with details of the property and area.
New homes often come with a guarantee such as Buildmark that insure against major defects resulting from the builders failure to carry out the guarantor’s requirements.
If your new home does not come with a warranty, or you'd like the peace of mind that a structural survey brings, you could decide to commission a Homebuyer's report.
When buying a very expensive home, it may be worth your while to arrange for a full structural survey.
Cost and time
The cost and time to complete your survey will depend upon which type of survey you have commissioned, and the size, condition and location of your home. It is best to get two or three quotes from different surveyors in the area to assess market rate. You may also wish to speak to your estate agent about typical costs in the area.
Ask for professional survey advice on 0800 083 4004